ISLAMABAD: Tolerance and partnership are the only way to fight global challenges. Kazakhstan has a strong belief that there is a non-military solution to any problem or issue. This was stated by Kazakhstan Ambassador Barlybay Sadykov during a public talk on Kazakhstan-Pakistan Relations – Priorities of Kazakh Foreign Policy, organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISS) on Friday under its Ambassadors Platform series. The talk was also a part of the celebrations of the independence of Kazakhstan which falls on December 16. Barlybay Sadykov talked about how in 27 years of independence, poverty in Kazakhstan has been reduced to 2.7 percent in 2017, the literacy rate is one of the highest in the world and the country is also one of the biggest oil suppliers in the world. He acknowledged how Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with Kazakhstan, something which the ambassador said still resides in the hearts and memories of the Kazakh people. “The leadership of Pakistan has always paid great attention to Kazakh foreign policy,” he said. One of the important hallmarks of the bilateral relationship with Pakistan is the decision taking at the Astana Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) where Pakistan was given full membership of the organisation in 2017. He also underlined the excellent cooperation between the two countries in the military sphere where the main areas of cooperation at the moment are military education and military technical cooperation. He said that Kazakhstan was interested in training its military personnel in Pakistan as well and hoped that the new Pakistani government would continue to maintain good relations as have predecessor governments. At the same time, the ambassador pointed to the very low level of trade turnover between the two countries. He specified how Pakistani agricultural products such as citrus and vegetables would be very competitive in the Kazakh market because of the winter spell in Kazakhstan during which products have to be imported from far off countries in Latin America. He highlighted how Kazakhstan is actively involved in mediation of many conflicts – the Astana process for the Syrian war being a prime example. Regarding the peace process in Afghanistan, he said that while it was a shared responsibility of all regional players, it is important that the peace process must be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. Earlier, in his welcome remarks, ISS Board of Governors Chairman Khalid Mahmood said that Kazakhstan is a very significant country playing an important role in many important organisations such as the SCO and Economic Cooperation Organisation. Pakistan, one of the first countries to recognise Kazakhstan’s independence and establish bilateral relations, shares a common vision of peace and security in the region. Both countries have been collaborating at an international level as well – each country has supported the other at various fora such as membership in the Security Council. Unfortunately, the trade between the two countries has not been subject to many impediments. This needs to be overcome. In his concluding remarks, Khalid Mahmood paid tribute to Sadykov for his comprehensive speech. He went on to say that Kazakhstan is on the ascending curve of rapid economic development and its responsible mediation efforts need to be applauded. Indeed, the country is a great role model for promoting interfaith harmony he concluded. Published in Daily Times, December 1st 2018.